Method for making a deletion of film data during the print producing phase



April 1969 F. THORNE-THOMSEN 3,438,703

I METHOD FOR MAKING A DELETION OF FILM DATA DURING THE PRINT PRODUCING PHASE Filed Nov. 14, 1966 E xposur Plane Figure 2 Figure 3 mvs/v ron- Fla/char Thorna- Thomsen BY: 4 I

United States Patent 3,438,708 METHOD FOR MAKING A DELETION 0F FILM DATA DURING THE PRINT PRO- DUCING PHASE Fletcher Thorne-Thomsen, Shreveport, La., assignor to Universal Oil Products Company, Des Plaines, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 14, 1966, Ser. No. 594,133 Int. Cl. G03b 27/58 US. Cl. 35577 6 Claims The present invention is directed to an improved method for effecting the deletion of material showing on a film during a printing or reproducing phase. More particularly there is provided a simplified procedure which eliminates the need of making an initial print that will be in part blocked out or otherwise modified to assist in the making of a final print with deletions.

It is becoming a common practice to make microfilms or other type film recordings, i.e., as used in aperture cards, of drawing, data sheets, specifications, brochure material and the like such that record storage and retrieval may be made convenient and accomplished with a minimum of filing space At the present time, it is also conventional to have on hand and to utilize one or more types of readers and/0r printers which will be used in connection with the films. In other words, rather than keep on hand a record print of each sheet of drawing or other material, it is merely required that film be placed into a reader for review or, alternatively, into a printer unit where a printed copy is to be made. Generally, there are used combined printer-reader units which are capable of projecting an enlarged reader screen showing of the information on the film land, in addition, operatable to produce a relatively large print or photocopy type of reproduction.

As a drafting room procedure, where a previously made drawing is to be modified for a subsequent design or model, it is not uncommon to make a photocopy of such first or prior drawing from the micro-film thereof and then effecting a blocking out operation on this photocopy over an area or portions thereof as will undergo revision. The blocked out copy will then be photocopied to provide a second photocopy or print which will have deletions in the desired area or portions. The draftsman, or revisor, can then make the changes or additions to such second photocopy print to provide a resulting new revision or new edition of the original drawing. Subsequently, for record and storage purposes, there can be a new photo film or new micro-film made of the revised drawing such that again there is a small sized micro-film or aperture card record of the drawing available to go into storage and retrieval. While this foregoing revision procedure is indicated as being widely used for the revision of a drawing, it is of course also used for other types of changes, as 'fo'rexample, in connection with specification and data sheets or with commercial art material and the like.

It may also be considered a principal object of the present invention to provide a faster, simplified system for elfecting the deletion of lines or data from a finished print during a reproduction operation.

It may be considered a more specific object of the present invention to provide for the reproduction of a photocopy type print on transparent copy from a film such that there are deletions of material on the print with respect to that showing on the film by effecting the insertion of a blocked out transparency or other matrix sheet between the sensitized paper and the film image. Thus, there can be an elimination of the need of printing a first reproduction copy to be blocked out and then used for the reproduction of a final copy with desired deletions.

In a broad aspect, in effecting the reproduction of a drawing from a film with a reader-printer type unit having a film holder means, a light source, a viewing screen, a supply of sensitized printing paper, internal mirror means for projecting an image onto the viewing screen and optionally to the printing paper, and means for producing an enlarged reproduction of said film, there is provided the improved method for effecting a finished print having a deletion of material with respect to that showing on the film, in a manner which comprises the steps of placing the film in the unit and projecting :an image thereof on the reader screen, positioning a transparent sheet over the projected image on said screen, applying an opaque coating material on said sheet over sections thereof which cover reflections of that portion of the film which are to be deleted in the reproduction printing, inserting the thus coated sheet in the readerprinter unit in a controlled position adjacent the printing paper and between the latter and the light source, and then subsequently operating the printing step whereby to provide a finished print with desired deletions.

Various types of transparent materials may be used to provide the medium upon which there will be the application of ink or other opaque substance. Such matrix may be flexible, semi-rigid or rigid and, in addition, may be disposable or reusable. For example, the operator may use a thin transparent velum which can be disposed of after each marking and use for making a reproduction. As an alternative, there can be utilized a relatively stiff transparent plastic sheeting which can be reused after washing off the ink or opaque marking material that provided prior deletions on one or more photo prints. A preferred apparatus arrangement might also make use of a light weight rigid and reusable glass sheet or stilt Lucite plastic sheet made in a manner to be readily handled and reused. Depending upon the type of reader printer equipment utilized, various types of apparatus arrangements may be provided to elfect the insertion of the marked matrix into the printer section of the unit following the step of blocking out portions on the transparent matrix after holding it over the reader section of the unit and effecting the blocking out of desired portions to be reproduced in the final printing. One method for inserting the blocked out matrix may be through the use of a sliding drawer system such that the maxtrix is clamped into a controlled fixed position and slid into the unit to come into alignment with the exposure plane adjacent the sensitized paper such that the resulting print has the desired blocked out portions. In a modified arrangement, the matrix may be slid into a unit much in a manner that an unexposed film is inserted into X-ray equipment or into a large camera.

Reference to the accompanying drawing and the following description thereof will serve to show diagrammatically the procedure effecting the deletion of material during a reproduction phase in connection with a readerprinter unit adapted to handle micro-films or aperture card material.

FIGURE 1 of the drawing is a partial elevational view indicating the placement of a transparent matrix sheet over the reader screen of the unit such that there my be a blocking out coating placed onto such transparent matrix.

FIGURE 2 of the drawing is an elevational side view of a reader-printer unit indicating diagrammatically a means for introducing a marked-up matrix into the exposure plane zone of the unit.

FIGURE 3 indicates diagrammatically one simplified means for placing a blocked out matrix within a drawer arrangement for accomplishing a controlled positioning of such matrix within the inner portion of the printer unit.

Referring now particularly to FIGURES 1 and 2 of the drawing there is shown diagrammatically a reader-printer unit 1 having a substantially vertically positioned reader section 2 which is adapted to show visually, in an enlarged manner, the data or material showing on a microfilm or aperture card 3 which can be inserted into the holder unit 4 at the front of the apparatus. In accordance with the present invention, where it is desired to obtain an actual print of the material showing on the micro-film or aperture card such as inserted in the slot portion 4, there will be positioning of a transparent matrix sheet 5 over the glass surface of the reader section 2. Preferably clamping means such as 6 are provided to hold the matrix 5 into a relatively tight fixed position over the screen while there is a blocking out operation or opaquing of portions of the matrix 5 to correspond with portions which shall be blank in a final reproduction print. Also, a preferable arrangement provides calibrations or edge markings on the matrix sheet 5 which shall be properly aligned to correspond with markings on the edge portions of the reader screen 2. Thus, where there is a holding of the micro-film or aperture card in a fixed position after reader adjustment for clarity, there can be a resulting controlled reproduction of an enlarged printed copy with deletions on the desired zones thereof.

After effecting one or more blocked out areas with ink or other opaque type application material 7 on matrix 5 there can be a removal of the latter from the reader section 2 and the insertion of such matrix into the exposure plane zone 8 of the reader-printer unit 1. In the present instance, there is indicated diagrammatically the placement of the matrix 5 into a drawer type arrangement 9 slidably held on a support section 10 in front of the unit. After proper alignment and placement in the drawer 9 there can be a sliding of the letter internally into the printing zone 8 in the manner of the dashed lines 9, such position being directly adjacent sensitized paper from a roll 11, whereby the matrix will be between the paper and a light source (not shown) in the unit.

In FIGURE 3 there is indicated diagrammatically the utilization of a drawer arrangement, such as 9, with a transparent glass or plastic bottom 12 and clamp means 13. Preferably, suitable markings or calibration means 14 shall be provided at the edges of the glass 12 such that there may be a proper controlled alignment of a matrix sheet, such as 5, into the drawer 9 and obtain a final controlled and desired positioning adjacent the paper 11 at the exposure plane 8 of the printer unit. The diagrammatic drawing also indicates that a small sized matrix sheet such as 5 may be utilized within the holding drawer 9 in lieu of the use of a large matrix such as 5 shown in FIGURE 1 of the drawing as covering the entire viewing screen.

In carrying out the printing operation to delete portions of the resulting print to be obtained from a microfilm or aperture card, there shall be a first placement of a matrix over the screen of the reader section 2 in order to obtain the desired locations for blocked out areas. Subsequently, the matrix, such as 5 with resulting blocked out markings 7', is carefully positioned against the transparent holder 12 in proper alignment with edge markings. Such edge markings should of course be provided to correspond with those on the screen of the reader unit 2 and provide the desired alignment or positioning on a subsequent print obtained from the reader-printer unit 1.

Where a throw-away type of matrix is utilized for the marking-up or blocking out with an opaque material, then such matrix may be removed from the drawer 9 and the transparent surface 12 after each printing opera tion and then discarded. However, where a plastic film or other reusable matrix is utilized, then such matrix should be cleaned with a suitable washing or by the application of a cleaning fluid such that a resulting cleaned matrix is made available for reuse and remarking when clamped to the reader section 2.

As noted previously hereinbefore, it is not intended to limit the present improved system to being used with any one type of reader-printer unit nor to any one means which elfects the insertion of the marked matrix into the exposure plane zone of the printer section. The present drawing is merely diagrammatic and indicates one method for insertion of the matrix in a non-light exposing manner, such that at the time of effecting the operation of the printer, or the lighted reflection of the image on the aperture card to the sensitized paper 11, there will be no outside light source admitted and a suitable reproduction print or transparency obtained with the desired deletions thereon. The system of the present invention of course provides considerable economy to the overall operation inasmuch as it is unnecessary to make a print which must be marked up and then wasted, while at the same time there is a time saving element by virtue of the operation being, in effect, a one step procedure versus a two step procedure. However, as was also previously noted, there is no intention to limit the new procedure to the use of any one type of matrix material nor to any one type of opaque paint or ink. Preferably such material shall be of the type that is readily removed from a permanent or reusable type of plastic or glass matrix.

I claim as my invention:

1. In effecting the reproduction of a drawing from a film with a reader-printer type unit having a film holder means, a light source, a viewing screen, a supply of sensitized printing paper, internal mirror means for projecting an image onto the viewing screen and optionally to the printing paper, and means for producing an enlarged printed reproduction of said film, the improved method for providing a finished print having a deletion of material with respect to that showing on the film, which comprises the steps of placing the film in the unit and projecting an image thereof on the reader screen, positioning a transparent matrix sheet over the projected image on said screen, applying an opaque coating material on said sheet over sections thereof which cover reflections of said film which are to be deleted in a reproduction printing, inserting the thus coated sheet in the reader-printer unit in a controlled position adjacent the printing paper and between the latter and the light source, and then subsequently operating the printing step whereby to provide a finished print with desired deletions.

2. The procedure of claim 1 further characterized in that both the viewing screen and said transparent matrix sheet shall have alignment markings, and a movable holder means is provided for the reader-printer unit, with such holding means having fixed alignment markings thereon permitting controlled placement and alignment of said matrix sheet therewith, whereby the sliding and movable insertion of the matrix adjacent to the printing paper will provide desired resulting deletions in a finished print.

3. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said transparent matrix sheet comprises a transparent paper type material which is disposable.

4. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said transparent matrix sheet comprises a flexible semirigid plastic material which may be subsequently cleaned of the opaque coating and reused for subsequent reproduction operations.

5. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that said transparent matrix sheet comprises a substantially rigid transparent material capable of being readily handled and reused for subsequent reproductions.

6. The method of claim 1 further characterized in that the coated transparent matrix sheet is inserted into the reader-printer unit within a slidable drawer arrangement in a controlled position provided by alignment markings 5 I 6 within such drawer arrangement whereby the transparent FOREIGN PATENTS sheet is in a resulting control position adjacent the print- 12/1964 Canada ing paper for accurate deletions on the resulting print from the NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,737,021 11/1929 Pollock 88-24 3,129,634- 4/1964 Sargent 88-24 95-83; 355-43, 45

5 RICHARD A. WINTERCORN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN EFFECTING THE REPRODUCTION OF A DRAWING FROM A FILM WITH A READER-PRINTER TYPE UNIT HAVING A FILM HOLDER MEANS, A LIGHT SOURCE, A VIEWING SCREEN, A SUPPLY OF SENSITIZED PRINTING PAPER, INTERNAL MIRROR MEANS FOR PROJECTING AN IMAGE ONTO THE VIEWING SCREEN AND OPTIONALLY TO THE PRINTING PAPER, AND MEANS FOR PRODUCING AN ENLARGED PRINTED REPRODUCTION OF SAID FILM, THE IMPROVED METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FINISHED PRINT HAVING A DELETION OF MATERIAL WITH RESPECT TO THAT SHOWING ON THE FILM, WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF PLACING THE FILM IN THE UNIT AND PROJECTING AN IMAGE THEREOF ON THE READER SCREEN, POSITIONING A TRANSPARENT MATRIX SHEET OVER THE PROJECTED IMAGE ON 